Undergarment.



F- M. SHIPLEY.

UNDERGARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED um. 21, I913.

Patented June 29, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. M. SHIPLEY.

UNDERGARMENT,

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27. I913.

Patented June 29, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mamas M. SHIPLEY, OF PIQUA, omo.

UNDERGARMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. Summer,

certain new and useful Improvements in Undergarments, of which the following is a full, clear, and'exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of-this specification.

My invention relates to undergarments particularly those-known as union suits, in which apermanent closure is provided between the front and' rear openings in the garment and in which the rear opening is closed by a pair of overlapping flaps.

Such garments are coming largely into use, but di-fliculty is experienced in obtaining a proper closure which can be readily and easily opened for use. The effort to provide fora proper closure is very apt to render the easy and convenient opening of the flaps awkward and to increase the folds and seams so as to be uncomfortable for the wearer.

It is the object of my invention to provide a construction for such union suits in which these objections are to a large extent avoided, and in which a close and neat fit can be obtained, and due protection and reinforcement of the seams at the crotch portion, and in which provision is made for the stretching of the garment at the crotch portion without undue strain.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the middle portion of my improved undergarment. Fig. 2 is a view from the inside, showing the construction of the crotch portion and means for closing the rear opening. Fig. 3 is a similar view from the inside, with the inner overlapping flap of the rear opening unstitched attop and bottom and laid back. Fig. 4 is a simi-- lar view, with both flaps unstitched and laid' back. Fig. 5 is a similar view, with both flaps laid back and one of the front portions of the body of the garment also unstitched' and laid back. Fig. 6 is an outside view of the crotchportion of the garment complete.

The construction of my improved union suit can be more effectually explained by describing the method of attaching-and securing the overlapping flaps and of securing the reinforcing piece in connection with the drawings which illustrate the {position Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 27, 1918. Serial No. 7%,880.

of the various parts-as they are unstitched and laid back. I

The body of the garnient,-in connection with the leg portions, is-originally knit in tubular form and then severed completely down the middle of the front to form the tions 3, ft, the leg portions being cut to proper size and form, and then each leg portion is formed by the seam 5, 6, running up the inside of each leg.

For the rear opening of the garment I provide theoverlapping flaps A. B. JPhese flaps are secured at the waist line in 'the back: for the flap A commencing at the median point'7 along the line 8, as shown from thejinside in Fig. 2. The flap A is then secured by the seam 9 to.one edge of the body portion of the garment in the back, and the flap B being secured at the waist line from the median point 7 along the line 10 is secured to the other edge of the body portion along the seam 12. The inner flap A and the outer flap B are then secured together in overlapping position as shown in Figs. 2 and 6 along the leg seam. The flap A extends from the point 14: down one leg seam across the medial line ofthe garment to the point 15, and the flap Bextends from the point 16' down the opposite leg seam to about the median line at. 17.

The segment flap or reinforcing strip C is then secured in place on the outside, as shown in Fig. 6. Commencing at the point 16 in the leg seam, thisreinforcing flap is secured to the body of the garment along the seam 18 across the median line, where the stitching secures the two front portions 1 and 2 of the garment together, and thence to the point 14 in the opposite seam, thence along the rear flap seam to the point 19,

thence along the line 20 across both flaps to the point 21, and thence along the flap seam to the point 16. This reinforcing flap thus forms a permanently closed portion, and

the opening between the two rear flaps commences at the line 20. The reinforcing flap, therefore, completely covers the seam 13. But this flap is only secured on the outside, and between the seam lines 18 and 20 the reinforcement piece is not secured to the garment. The front portions 1 and 2 at the middle are, however, permanently secured together along the lines 22, 23.

front body portions 1,2, and the leg por- The result of this construction is that the seam 13 is fully protected against wear and secured at one side ofthe seam line to the overlapping flaps and on the other side to the body of the garment.

- Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 2- 1. In a union garment, leg portions and a body portion, open in the front and in the rear to a point near the waist line,'with the body portion permanently secured together at the front of the crotch portion, and two overlapping flaps to close the rear portion, each secured along one side edge to its re spective side edge of the rear opening and attached along its lower edge to the leg seams, with a reinforcing strip for the crotch portion secured across the lower end of the body portion in front of the leg seams for one longitudinal edge, and across the lower portion of theoverlapping flaps for the other longitudinal edge with the reinforcement strip free between said longitudinal edges to protect and strengthen the leg seams at the crotch portion.

2. Ina union garment, leg portions and a body portion, open in the front and in the rear to a point near the waist line, with the body portion permanently secured together at the front of the crotch portion, and two overlapping flaps to close the rear' portion, each secured along one side edge to its respective side edge of the rear opening and attached along its lower edge to the leg seams, with a segmental shaped reinforcing strip for the crotch portion secured on the outside across the lower end of the body portion: in front of the leg seams for one longitudinal edge, and across the lower por tion of the overlapping flaps for the other longitudinal edge, with the end edges secured along the side edge of its respective overlapping flap with the reinforcement strip free between said longitudinal edges to protect and strengthen the leg seams at 55 the crotch portion.

FRANCIS M. SHIPLEY. Attest:

MARSTON ALLEN, HELEN L. AIoHHoLz. 

